Watchung resident, a pharmacist, is charged with possession of a CDS and theft

WATCHUNG — A pharmacist who lives in Watchung voluntarily turned himself in today to detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Unit.

According to a release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office, Daniel Garvey, 53, of Washington Drive in Watchung has been charged with possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 3rd degree and Theft, 3rd degree.

DeMarco sadd that an investigation was conducted by the Manville Police Department Detective Bureau and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit into Garvey’s activities while he worked as a pharmacist at the CVS located in Manville. The investigation revealed Garvey had stolen quantities of Tussionex and Hycodan, both Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), from the CVS pharmacy stockroom.

DeMarco said after noticing discrepancies in the stocks of Tussionex and Hycodan, both scheduled III controlled dangerous substances, CVS installed hidden cameras in both Garvey’s work station and the area where the drugs are stored. The tapes showed that between Dec. 7, and 21, 2009, Garvey transferred both Tussionex and Hycodan from the stock bottles to a separate two ounce bottle that he would place in his pocket, police said.

According to police, on eight of the days of the videotaped transfers, there were no corresponding scripts written for Tussionex or Hycodan. On Dec. 21, defendant Garvey transferred Hycodan into a two ounce bottle on two occasions, however, there was only one prescription written that day for two ounces of Hycodan.

Between Dec. 7 and 21, 2009, there are videotapes of 11 such transfers from stock bottles to two ounce bottles that Garvey then placed into his pocket, police reported. According to CVS drug usage reports, Garvey should not have handled or dispensed those two drugs during that time period, except for one instance on Dec. 21.